Moth is O’Brien’s shortest-priced in 1000 Guineas after Curragh win

If there were doubts before this weekend as to Aidan O’Brien’s leading contender for the 1000 Guineas they’ve only been exacerbated by the taking performance of the Ballydoyle maestro’s Moth in the 7f fillies maiden at the Curragh yesterday.

Snow Queen, 20/1, Magical Dream, 33/1, Hanky Panky, 40/1, A Star Is Born, 66/1 and Infanta Branca, 66/1 all hold entries for 1m classic for the fairer sex, but Moth – who will need to be supplemented for the Newmarket race – is now shortest of O’Brien’s entries for the race at 14/1.

In winning her maiden by four-and-half-lengths the daughter of Galileo showed an impressive turn of foot to leave her rivals and her below average juvenile performances, firmly behind.

That Moth now finds herself just two points behind Sky Lantern in the 1000 Guineas betting is surprising considering the fact the that Richard Hannon’s filly beat Magical Dream and Snow Queen by three and a quarter lengths and 20 lengths respectively in the Group 1 Moyglare Stud stakes at the Curragh last year.

Nonetheless the horse she beat into second on Sunday had finished a place behind her on the duo’s final two-year-old start and while the distance between them at the line has increased by four lengths from race to race it’s perhaps a note of caution over the form underlying her visually impressive victory.

Magical Dream is more than double the price of Moth at present, yet she boasts superior two-year-old form behind Sky Lantern and in front of Dermot Weld’s Big Break.

Magical Dream beat the latter by two and quarter lengths in a maiden last July, a performance which is to her credit given that rival – currently 10/1 in the 1000 Guineas betting with Coral – won her subsequent races by three lengths or more.

With Moth holding still to be supplemented for Newmarket, it could perhaps that her half sister Magical Dream looks better value.